Animal Update - January 4

Published January 04, 2013

Between our Baltimore and Washington, DC, venues, more than 17,500 animals representing 900 species call the National Aquarium home. There are constant changes, additions, and more going on behind the scenes that our guests may not notice during their visit. We want to share these fun updates with our community so we're bringing them to you in our weekly Animal Update posts!

Check our blog every Friday to find out what's going on... here's what's new this week!

Longsnout seahorses

We have added two new Caribbean longsnout seahorses to our National Marine Sanctuaries and National Parks gallery!

Did you know this species of seahorse only reach a maximum size of six inches? Their small size allows them to explore even the slimmest crevices of reefs! This is where they search of food and find coral pieces to anchor on for rest and protection.

As with other seahorse species, when longsnout seahorses mate the female deposits her eggs into a pouch in the male's belly. The male is then responsible for carrying the eggs until they hatch and the male is ready to give birth to the live young!

Both males and females are typically a yellow color, with flecks of brown and black (allowing them to blend into their reef habitats). This camouflage coloration along with their bony body allows the longsnout seahorse to have very few predators.

Unfortunately, these beautiful creatures are still seriously threatened by habitat loss!

Can't get enough of these beautiful creatures? Download this month's customized, free wallpapers of the lined seahorse to your computer, mobile device and/or social platform!